So, I can't remember if I posted about this here on Tumblr, but in early July I set out to do a lightfast test for the HIMI Miya jelly gouache. For those unfamiliar with the term, "Lightfastness" refers to a paint's ability (or lack thereof) to stand up to UV rays over time. Some colors fade, some change--as you can see with that purple in the 8th row--and some hold up very well. It's a good way to see if your paintings are going to withstand the test of time.
I wanted to test these paints before I started using them so I could figure out whether it was a good idea to use them in paintings that I want to sell originals of. After this test I will say this--I'll probably only use these on pieces that are destined for digital printing only. Some of the colors are still looking okay, but some (lookin' again at that purple!) are just not up for it.
I was a little surprised that I couldn't find any information on the lightfastness of these paints--hence why I had to perform a test myself. But I hope this serves as a helpful tidbit of information to anyone who had the same questions as I did about these paints. I have yet to use them (mostly because I was waiting on this test) but I'm excited to do so, even taking into account the fading of some of the colors.
GOOD GODS I CANNOT GET OVER HOW MUCH THAT PURPLE CHANGED!!!!!! Look at it!! It’s PINK now! I guess that means that whatever blue pigment they used is not very lightfast. -_-
Anyway, I hope people are still keeping safe and sane.
Please share this if you have artist friends It's weird that this information wasn't available, so if this can help anyone, a quick share is a great way to help people see it. That way someone else won’t have to waste 2 months waiting for the sun to damage their paints :)
Just some thoughts about the future....a ramble really.
I’ve been doing a bit of thinking over the last few days since I officially sent in my application to grad school. The last few months have been so full and stressful, it’s made me take a bit of a step back to assess.
There’s a lot of thoughts bouncing around in my head right now, so this is just a big, unstructured brainstorm at this point.
This might get long, so I’m gonna put the rest under a read more :)
For those who don’t know me IRL, and I can’t remember if I’ve been super clear about this online: I just applied to an MFA program so I can get the degree that allows me to teach at a college level. This has been my only concrete goal for a while, but after the last 5 months of working to get my application prepared, I’m starting to have thoughts.
Like, is this what I really want to do? Do I love the idea of teaching or do I just love the idea of being paid to have art as my career in some capacity?
I’ve been following plenty of artists that make their living through YouTube, Patreon, and selling prints & merch of their art. I see what their lives look like as full-time artists working for themselves, and the more I see, the more attractive that particular path is looking. I mean, it’s a lot of work--being your own boss sounds a bit on the stressful side--but it seems so fulfilling at the same time.
I’m very happy with the direction my art has taken in the last couple of years, but I really miss learning new things! I miss being around other artists and creative people with different life experiences. I really miss having a studio space where it was mostly just me there.
SO, here are my things to think about in the coming months:
If I don’t get into the MFA program this year, do I immediately start researching other schools and prepare for another round of applications for the year after? That was my plan up until about a week ago.
If I decide that I want to either wait on the MFA thing or ditch it entirely, what do I do then? I still want to grow as an artist. Some things I could think about would probably be: artist residencies, taking some more community college classes in media that I don’t have experience with, taking online classes, try to get my art out in my own community.
If I do want to make it my new goal to be a full-time working artist, what are the steps I need to take for that? How long should I wait before I try and make that happen? What do I still need to learn/do before making my living through art can be a reality?
I moved to where I’m at now specifically to be near to the college I’m applying to--do I want to stay here or try striking out totally on my own somewhere else? And if so, where?
Being a naturally anxious person, I overthink pretty much everything, so thinking about my future has a lot of “well, if I did this, I also have to think about THIS, so I don’t want to get stuck into THIS, but I may not be able to find a place that allows me to do both of these things at the same time. This is mostly in regards to finding a new living situation down the road. I really REALLY want to live on my own (with a cat, of course). I want to have full control over my space and my life. But then I think--okay, what about doing full-time art. I need somewhere to make art, I need somewhere to film videos, I need somewhere to store finished paintings and projects, so I need “X” amount of space. “X” amount of space in a single-person living situation costs “Y”, so that means I have to be making THIS much every month, so I need to be doing this many hours of art making and I’d need to have this many patrons and regular buyers.
Anyway, it’s a lot. I need to do some hard thinking about what I really want for myself in the near future. Problem is, this is all really dependent on information I won’t get for a few months. I guess I gotta come up with some Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C goodness here.
Ok, the rant’s over. I’m done. Hopefully soon I’ll have some more art for you all. I think I need a bit of a rest first tho :)
You know the worst part about applying for a graduate studio program?
I’m literally working my ass off to try and get my portfolio together and finished (I still have 8 paintings to go, only 2 of which are started!!) and I still might not make it into the program. All this worry and fuss and not taking care of myself so I have more time to paint and I still might not make it. (And, not only that, but they won’t even TELL you if you don’t make it!! They only contact you if you make it to the next step--the interview)
I was told that it’s normal to have to apply for 2-4 years to get into one of these programs (because they are so impacted due to lack of physical space to give people). That’s 2-4 years of having to redo an entire body of work because you can’t reapply with the same images.
I think I just need to have my little freak-out and then knuckle down and get back to work. Venting helps a bit, I guess. Time to shackle myself to my easel.
Going on a slight tangent from my last text post about portfolio art vs. marketable art:
Just a note to myself: I want to get to a place where I don’t feel the need to monetize every single concept I make. I’d like to sell my art, yes, but I don’t want to JUST sell my art. I want to share it too.
I want to be able to make a thing and not instantly think “Ooh, how could I make this a print, or a sticker, or a coffee mug”
Capitalism has really fucked with my brain to the point where I can’t just create “because” anymore. There has to be a reason for everything, and I think that’s kind of a toxic place for me to stay. It’s stopping me from having fun with my art and enjoying what I create.
“It’s un-American not to want to get something for nothing!” --Frank Burns, M.A.S.H TV show. When I catch myself thinking about the monetization of my every little creation, I think about this. I don’t want to think about money first and everything else second :(
